CHI311 vs NICOR NLC
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CHI311
Report non-emergency issues like potholes or graffiti directly to Chicago city services. Track the status of your requests, submit photos, and get real-time updates on city work in your neighborhood. This official app connects residents and businesses to essential city services.
- Submit new service requests
- Track request status and resolution times
- Attach photos to requests
- Map request locations
- Create an account for tracking
- Search knowledge articles
- View neighborhood requests
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See a pothole? Notice an open hydrant? Let us know. The official CHI 311 app allows residents and businesses to quickly and easily connect to Chicago city services. CHI 311 will be your first place to submit and track non-emergency service requests, get real-time updates, and find information on-the-go. You can also explore work being done in your area. Sign up for your 311 account to access city services and track your requests today. FEATURES - Create new service requests - Check the status of existing requests and the time it will take to resolve - Snap a photo and submit it with a request to improve accuracy - Map your request to help pinpoint a location - Create an account to track your service requests and get local, relevant info - Search and see helpful knowledge articles - Discover requests in your neighborhood CITY SERVICES - Report a pothole - Fix my streetlight - Graffiti removal - Rodent baiting request - Garbage cart maintenance - Tree trim request - Ice/snow removal request - No heat complaint - Abandoned buildings - Clean and Green program registration - Clean a vacant lot - Report stray animals - Senior well-being request - Report a building violation Built with Chicagoans, for Chicagoans!
NICOR NLC
This app enables remote control of compatible luminaires through a Bluetooth Mesh network. It allows users to define groups and zones, create scenes, adjust settings, and monitor energy usage. Access can be shared easily via QR codes.
- Define and Control Groups and Zones
- Create and Manage Scenes
- Adjust Occupancy/Vacancy Settings
- Utilize Daylight Harvesting
- Monitor Energy Usage
- Share Access via QR Codes
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NICOR's Network Lighting Controls (NLC) is a Bluetooth Mesh Lighting Control System. The NLC lighting control network is comprised of various NLC enabled luminaires including the following components: - PIR Occupancy Sensors - PIR Daylight Sensors - Load Controllers - Power Packs - Wall Control Switches - Mesh System Nodes Each component utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Mesh to remotely control and operate compatible luminaires. Scale up from individual luminaires to groups, zones, and entire establishments. The NLC system can control up to 100 luminaires per zone across multiple rooms. Manage controls and luminaires directly from the app with integrated features: - Define and Control Groups and Zones - Create and Manage Scenes - Adjust Occupancy/Vacancy Settings - Utilize Daylight Harvesting - Control Task Tuning/High-End Trim Settings - Set and Define Schedules - Monitor Energy Usage - Integrated DLC NLC5 Encrypted Security - Share Access Simply via QR Codes To learn more about NICOR NLC and view a full list of components and NLC enabled luminaires, visit https://nicorlighting.com/network-lighting-controls/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CHI311 at 2.5 against NICOR NLC's 1.9. CHI311 also leads on ratings volume (245 vs 15) and review sentiment (14% vs 0%). NICOR NLC's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
CHI311 holds the better App Store score, 2.5 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CHI311 has 245 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of CHI311's written reviews are positive against 0% of NICOR NLC's.
CHI311 ships an update monthly, NICOR NLC every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CHI311 | NICOR NLC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.5 (245 ratings) — better | 1.9 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 14.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 245 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | City of Chicago | Nicor Lighting |
Customer experience
CHI311
NICOR NLC
Bugs and requests
CHI311
Reported bugs
3 issues- Photo/image upload failures
- Submission errors and timeouts
- Inconsistent performance across devices and OS versions
Requested features
3 requests- More request categories and customization options
- Ability to add notes and descriptions to requests
- Improved notification and status tracking features
NICOR NLC
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
CHI311
No in-app purchases
NICOR NLC
No in-app purchases
